Self-propelled toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush comprises an upper body carrying bristles and associated with a lateral pushbutton, and a lower body consisting of a container with a valve and containing a toothpaste composition mixture. The combination is such that as soon as the pushbutton is depressed the valve is opened and an outflow of the toothpaste mixture through the bristles is allowed.

United States Patent Inventor Francesco Verga Dr. Ing. Misitano A. G. Via Padova, 217- 20127, Milan, Italy Appl. No. 788,878 Filed Jan. 3, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Priority May 24, 1968 Italy 16862 A/68 SELF-PROPELLED TOOTHBRUSH 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 401/190, 401/287, 401/291 Int. Cl A46b 11/02 Field of Search 401/190, 287

1ifiaren cCi teF UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1959 Powell 2/1966 Gaines.... 3/1966 Peters..... 5/1967 Wagner Primary ExaminerLawrence Charles Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush comprises an upper body carrying bristles and associated with a lateral pushbutton, and a lower body consisting of a container with a valve and containing a toothpaste composition mixture. The combination is such that as soon as the pushbutton is depressed the valve is opened and an outflow of the toothpaste mixture through the bristles is allowed.

PATENTEnum 12 IBTI 3,612,706

o a o a O0 INVENTOR:

SELF-PROPELLED 'IOOTIIBRUSII FIELD OF THE INVENTION It has already been proposed to combine a toothbrush with a container containing a gas propellant-cleaning composition mixture so as to obviate the use of two separate components namely of the toothbrush and a toothpaste composition. The known solutions to this proposal present some drawbacks such as difficult handling and restricted capability of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A It is a principal object of this invention to provide a toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush presenting an easy and broad use and simple in the construction and capable of a wide range of adaptability as for example in schools, hospitals, camping and travelling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothpastedispensing toothbrush which permits the expulsion of the toothpaste composition by manual pressure on a lateral pushbutton, whereby no special measure is necessary to prevent any uncontrolled outlet of the toothpaste composition as a consequency of a casual pressure. In fact a positive pressure is required to actuate the valve to cause the outflow of the toothpaste composition mixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush of this kind permitting replacement of an exhausted container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothpaste-despensing toothbrush presenting a pushbutton to be inserted by means of an elastic coupling whereby its loss is practically impossible, the bristle carrier body being threaded to the container. In fact, when this bristle brush carrier body is threaded to the container, the conventional pipe of the container being frictionally coupled to a spray valve nose, and traverses a hole formed in the pushbutton whereby the latter is positively prevented from disengagement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will-become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIG. I shows an axial longitudinal sectional view, taken on line l-l of FIG. 2, of a toothpaste-despensing toothbrush according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational longitudinal view of the toothbrush as seen in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on line III-III in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the pushbutton.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line V-V in FIG. 4.

The container (1) is filled with a propellent gas and detergent composition compatible with one another and forming a foamy toothpaste composition. According to the invention the valve (30) of the container (1) is constructed to allow the out flow of the toothpaste composition through the pipe (3) whenever a pressure in the direction of the arrow (T) is exerted adjacent to the location where the pipe (3) is coupled to the valve outlet. There is provided an upper body (6) carrying at its top portion (8) brushes (7), and its lower portion (9) is threaded to a corresponding threaded portion (40) of the container (l). The body (6) presents at its intermediate portion (ll) an aperture (13) (FIG. 2) the profile of which is complementary to the pushbutton to provide a slidable connection.

During the moulding operation, there are formed at the aperture (13) a number of small ears, namely an upper ear (l6) and two lower ears (26, 36) symmetrical with respect to the middle plane I-I of the toothbrush. The pushbutton (10) is formed with an upper notch l8) and two side notches (19, 20) and with a circular hole (60), the diameter of which is substantially the same as the diameter of the pipe (3). The peripheral profile (see FIGS. 2 and 5) of the pushbutton is other than circular and is preferably of D-shape. The top portion (8) of the bristle carrier body (6) is traversed by a longitudinal hole or conduct (23) wherefrom extend four nozzles (22-25-29-27), the diameter of which progressively decreases in the direction of out flow of the toothpaste composition. The nozzles all open adjacent to the bristles (7).

7 DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION Having briefly described the preferred embodiment of the present invention the operation of the toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush will be hereinafter described. The pushbutton (10) is inserted with manual pressure in the direction of arrow (T) into the aperture (13), whereby during this movement the three ears firstly undergo an elastic expansion and thereafter they positively engage respectively the three notches (18-12-211), whereby the pushbutton (10) remains positively positioned, namely it is automatically prevented from escaping from aperture (13). The container (1) may be connected to the bristle carrier body by screwing the same thereto after having passed the pipe (3) through the hole (60). In this position the pushbutton (10) projects outside the body as clearly visible in FIG. 1.

In use, the operator presses the pushbutton (10) in the arrow (T), whereby the valve (30) will be displaced and therefore opened and the toothpaste mixture will flow through the bristles. As soon as the pushbutton (10) is released the spray valve will be automatically closed. Since the valve 30 is of known construction it will not be described in greater detail.

The preceding description makes it evident that the mentioned objects of the invention have been fully attained. In the light of the disclosure, changes and modifications within the true spirit and scope of the invention will occur to others, and accordingly it is not desired that the scope of the invention be restricted except as is required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toothpaste dispensing toothbrush comprising in combination a container for a propellent gas and a detergent composition together constituting a toothpaste substance, a valve on said container including a valve stem, a bristle carrier body removably connected to said container, said bristle carrier body having a branched longitudinal duct and opening at the bristles carried by said body, a pipe connected to said valve and opening into said duct, said bristle carrier body having a noncircular aperture formed therein, a pushbutton slidably mounted in said aperture and having a shape complementary to said aperture, said body including a plurality of radially projecting ears at said aperture, said pushbutton having a corresponding plurality of notches for receiving said ears to provide an elastic coupling preventing disengagement of said pushbutton and the body, said pushbutton further having a hole in which said pipe is received so as to prevent separation thereof while permitting said valve to be opened and said toothpaste substance to flow through the pipe and duct to said bristles by exertion of manual pressure on said pushbutton.

2. A toothbrush as claimed in claim I wherein said valve is actuated by application of lateral pressure thereon, said pushbutton being laterally displaceable in said body for applying lateral pressure on said valve to open the same.

3. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ears are elastic and pennit lateral displacement of said pushbutton in said body for actuation of said valve. 

1. A toothpaste dispensing toothbrush comprising in combination a container for a propellent gas and a detergent composition together constituting a toothpaste substance, a valve on said container including a valve stem, a bristle carrier body removably connected to said container, said bristle carrier body having a branched longitudinal duct and opening at the bristles carried by said body, a pipe connected to said valve and opening into said duct, said bristle carrier body having a noncircular aperture formed therein, a pushbutton slidably mounted in said aperture and having a shape complementary to said aperture, said body including a plurality of radially projecting ears at said aperture, said pushbutton having a corresponding plurality of notches for receiving said ears to provide an elastic coupling preventing disengagement of said pushbutton and the body, said pushbutton further having a hole in which said pipe is received so as to prevent separation thereof while permitting said valve to be opened and said toothpaste substance to flow through the pipe and duct to said bristles by exertion of manual pressure on said pushbutton.
 2. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve iS actuated by application of lateral pressure thereon, said pushbutton being laterally displaceable in said body for applying lateral pressure on said valve to open the same.
 3. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ears are elastic and permit lateral displacement of said pushbutton in said body for actuation of said valve. 